Ed Miliband has announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party after a disastrous election defeat which saw the Conservatives win a majority.

He made the announcement shortly after noon to a room full of supporters, saying solemnly: "This is not the speech I wanted to give today because I believe that Britain needed a Labour government.

"I still do but the public voted otherwise last night.

"I am tendering my resignation taking effect after this afternoon's commemoration of VE-Day.

"I want to do so straight away because the party needs an open debate about the right way forward without constraint."

Mr Miliband says he phoned David Cameron earlier to congratulate him on his victory.

He then told the audience: "I take absolute and total responsibility for this result."

Harriet Harman will take over the role temporarily, but says she will step down as deputy leader when the new leader is chosen.

Nick Clegg has quit as leader of the Lib Dems as activists wept openly after a "catastrophic" election night.

Mr Clegg said results had been "immeasurably more crushing and unkind" than expected.

Activists sobbed as their resigning leader described results as "the most crushing blow to the Liberal Democrats since the party was founded".

Mr Clegg said: "I always expected this election to be exceptionally difficult for the Liberal Democrats, given the heavy responsibilities we've had to bear in government in the most challenging of circumstances.

"But clearly results have been immeasurably more crushing and unkind than I could ever have feared.

"For that, of course, I must take responsibility and therefore I announce I will be resigning as leader of the Liberal Democrats."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has quit as leader of the party after losing out in the Thanet constituency.

The figurehead of the anti-EU party came in second, losing to Conservative rival Craig McKinlay by a margin of 2,808.

Mr Farage had promised to resign in the event of a defeat, although appeared to leave the door open for a return following the result, saying a Ukip election would happen int eh summer and he may consider putting himself forward for it.